Page 30 - The Old Ratcliffian 2011

The Old Ratcliffan 2011 | Old Ratcliffan news nursery business. I suppose it would a Chartered Surveyor in 2005. Since reason to fear!” be nice to get to fifty and stand back 1996 I have been a Deacon in the and take time to enjoy life more, but Diocese of Leeds.” John Budding (06): “Not quite not just at present.” content with four years of further Chris Merriman (83): “I started a education, I will be starting a Masters Jonathan Wightman (93): “After new company, Merriman Property Ltd, in Ethnomusicology at Goldsmiths leaving Ratcliffe, I started an specialising in property development this October. The masters will apprenticeship with the Ministry and property management. I continue further my knowledge in cultural and of Defence as a Royal Electrical to see Andrew Yell (82) (although social studies of music. I balance and Mechanical Engineer based why, I don’t know), Greg O’ Connor my studies with a part-time job at at Old Dalby. Unfortunately, due (83) and Richard Palmer (83). I see the British Academy of Songwriters, to government cutbacks, the base Suzanne Buckland (née Armstrong) Composers and Authors, and with closed down in 1996 and, instead (81) regularly, who is married and my work as a session musician. I of relocating to the Telford base, I living in Nottinghamshire.” currently do freelance work for decided to leave and start work in our Mike Ogilvie (72): “I’m still in numerous bands, including Amy family-owned construction firm. In MacDonald, Conor Deasy of The 2000, I moved to Lincolnshire and Eastbourne with my firm, OBC The Thrills, and I have even managed started a small plumbing and heating Accountants. I have recently been some TV work, including backing company. After a holiday to the holidaying at La Manga Club in Spain One Direction on 2011’s X Factor (the Canadian Rockies in 2005, I decided with Andrew Marshall (72) and his highlight of which was, naturally, new fiancé, Chrissy. I have recently I would like to relocate to Canada seeing Wagner in a pair of gold and did so in 2008. I’m currently got engaged myself to a local solicitor, sequinned trousers). It may come living in Calgary, Alberta, and I work Nadine Ashford. In my other role as a as a surprise to many of my old as a project manager for a property conference speaker, I have been hired classmates and teachers (who can management company. I have enjoyed to speak in November at the Third probably recount the amount of PE World Advertising Forum in Tehran, living abroad for the last few years, lessons I attended on one hand) that although I am now contemplating Iran.” I have become interested in fitness! I returning to the UK.” Max Noss (10): “After leaving will be running the Royal Parks Half Basil d’Oliveira (44): “Since I last Ratcliffe, I took a gap year. During Marathon in October, and I am hoping communicated with you, and having this time I travelled across Australia to gain a place in either the London or Paris Marathon in April 2012.” reached the ripe old age of 83, I and New Zealand, working on farms decided to call it a day and retire and in hostels. I am currently Frank Finnegan (72): “Recently on July 1st 2011. I am currently studying for an Economics and my wife, Chris, and I celebrated our preparing to present a special paper Marketing degree in Sheffield.” 25th Wedding Anniversary at home on The Comet in Transport Command in Sheffield. Bob Forstner (72) and (1956-1976). This paper is for the Matthew Lindley (72) were amongst Royal Air Force Historical Society at the friends who attended.” the RAF Museum, Hendon. The idea Peter Finn (70): “I first ran the behind this was to put on record some of the events that occurred in the London Marathon in 2007. It was 1950s. Sadly, most of those involved my first ever marathon and I ran it to have now died.” raise funds for Mencap. Having run one, I thought I might as well stay Hollie Haines (10): “After Ratcliffe, fit and run a few more, and I did the I took a gap year to spend working New York Marathon for Mencap later and applied to the University of Max Noss (10) that year. But my greatest pleasure Nottingham, where I have now started. was when my son, James (08), began Can I just say that Ratcliffe absolutely Tony Gibbons (53): “I am now a running with me. We both did the turned my life around. I hold the Research Fellow in the School of Great North Run in 2007 and followed school very, very close to my heart as Humanities at Flinders University, that with the London Marathon in it gave me the two best years of my South Australia. This provides a 2008, where we started and finished life. I can’t thank all the staff there good environment in which to do together in a time of 3 hours and 48 enough.” my research and to write. Another minutes. James and I ran The Atlantic granddaughter has now raised the Coast Challenge in 2010, which is total to five – Naomi was born to my from Padstow to Land’s End, and son, Michael and his wife, Angelina, in entails running three marathons in Jakarta. We spent a couple of weeks three days. In September, Rory (now with them recently. It is exceedingly into his final year at Ratcliffe) joined soothing to be old and ancient and be us at Nottingham, where he ran his received into a Chinese family - I like first ever half-marathon. So, since Confucius more and more! Given the that first London Marathon in 2007, state of my knees after decades of I have run 25 marathons and James hockey, rugby, squash and marathons, has run 13. So far, we have raised over the only possibility is cycling and I £25,000 for Mencap, and James has Hollie Haines (10) shall be part of the public satellite pledged to run with me on my 100th event in the next South Australian Tour Marathon when I join the ‘100 Club’! Nicholas Shields (62): “I retired as ‘Down Under’. Cadel Evans has no At my present progress, that should 30